USA > Connecticut > History of Connecticut, Volume III > Part 19
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In 1948, on the death of Mr. Suzio and of his son, Mr. Altobello returned to Meriden, becoming vice president and general manager of all the Suzio enterprises. In 1950, he became president and treas- urer of York Hill Trap Rock Company, the L. Suzio Construction Company, the Suzio Asphalt Company, the Suzio Concrete Company of Meriden, and of the L. Suzio Trap Rock Company of Southwick, Massachusetts.
A Connecticut state senator and a member of the Meriden Hous- ing Authority, his outstanding record and personal popularity caused the citizens of Meriden to present him with a petition of thousands of names, urging him to run for mayor of the city on the Democratic ticket. He won by a landslide, and was re-elected for second and third terms.
Upon attaining office, his first announcement was to the effect that no city employee would be replaced because of political affiliation. He has constantly adhered to a strong school expansion program, wage increases for municipal workers, and was one of the first to insist that school teachers should get preference in salaries, rather than be treated as a group apart. Under his guidance, the city of Meriden acquired a substantial financial surplus and he was able to lower the tax rate.
Mr. Altobello has been active in professional organizations and he is a director of the Connecticut Road Builders Association and of the Meriden Savings Bank, and is a member of the Executive Com- mittee of Mayors and Selectmen of Connecticut, working on the enact- ment of a permanent program for the relief of flood-stricken com- munities. A Third degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Holy Name Society and of the Fathers' Club, he also holds membership in the Elks, the Eagles and the Moose, is active in the Lions Club, and was for twenty years a member of the Grange. He attends religious services at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Altobello was married in 1930 to Josephine Lamontagne, the daughter of Francis Lamontagne and of Mary (Hennesey) La- montagne. Mr. and Mrs. Altobello have five children: 1. Henrietta,
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born in 1931. 2. Lourde, born in 1935. 3. Daniel B., born in 1941, and now studying for the priesthood. 4. Patricia, born in 1948. 5. Suzanne, born in 1953.
CRAIG DOUGLAS MUNSON
President of the International Silver Company of Meriden, since 1955, and associated with the company since 1920, Mr. Munson is a leader in the silverware industry, he is a director of International Silver, and is president of the Dime Savings Bank of Wallingford.
He was born in Wallingford, on February 16, 1899, the son of George Douglas Munson and of Mary Atkinson (Clark) Munson. He was educated in Choate School from 1908 to 1916, and then ob- tained the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Yale University in 1920. During World War I, he served as a cadet in the Army Air Corps from February to November, 1918.
A salesman for the International Silver Company from 1920 to 1922, Mr. Munson was advertising manager of the Sterling Silver Division from 1922 to 1927, and was then sales manager of the Wilcox and Evertsen branch in 1927 and 1928. Manager of the Ster- ling Silver Division from 1929 to 1935, he then became vice president and sales manager in 1935, and it was in 1955 that he was elected president of International Silver. A record of the International Silver Company appears in the industrial and institutional section of this history.
Mr. Munson has been active in community organizations and he is a director of the Gaylord Farm Sanatorium. He is a director of the Home National Bank of Meriden, and of Sargent Company, New Haven. His social connections include membership in the Walling- ford Country Club, the New Haven Country Club, the Metabetchouan Club of Canada and the Twenty-Four Karat Club of New York. Golf and hunting are his favorite sports. He is Republican in politics, and attends religious worship as a member of the Episcopal Church.
Mr. Munson was married on January 14, 1922, to Louise At- water. Mr. and Mrs. Munson have three children: I. Craig Douglas II, born on December 13, 1923. He is the father of three children: Craig Douglas III, born on September 21, 1945; Mary Louise, born on September 21, 1948; and Joanne, born on July 25, 1954. 2. Marjory Jeannne, born on November 14, 1925, is now Mrs. Russell Weldon. She is the mother of one daughter, Susan, born on June 3, 1956. 3. Louise Atwater, born on March II, 1930, is now Mrs. Richard J. Dunn. She is the mother of one daughter Laura, born June 6, 1957.
Conn.III-16
Author Sheahan
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WALTER POLI SHEAHAN
President of the New England Iron Works of New Haven, since 1958, and associated with the company since 1946, Mr. Sheahan was elected president of the Steel Fabricators and Erectors Associa- tion in 1957. Organizer of the W. M. Sheahan Realty Corporation in 1955, he is a member of the Milford, Connecticut, Republican Town Committee.
Mr. Sheahan was born in Washington, D. C., on April 3, 1919, the son of Walter Melbourne Sheahan and of Juliette (Poli) Shea- han. His father was born in New Haven, on October 14, 1895, the son of William Lawrence Sheahan and of Catharine (Ennis) Shea- han. William Sheahan was a member of the firm of Sheahan and Groark of New Haven, steam heating and ventilating engineers, and he was active in New Haven's civic life. Walter M. Sheahan attended New Haven High School and St. John's Preparatory School, and he graduated from Lafayette College in 1917. He served in Naval Aviation during World War I and studied for a time at Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology. He became associated with the New England Iron Works, Incorporated, of New Haven, in 1919, served as secretary, and became acting president in 1930. He was a member of the Union League Club, the Lions Club, the Elks, Race Brook Country Club and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was fond of sports, and was a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church. He died on May 6, 1958. Mr. Sheahan's mother was the daughter of Sylvester Poli and of Rose (Leverone) Poli. Her father was a sculptor, who founded a wax museum in New Haven, later organizing it into a vaudeville house. At one time he was the owner of thirty-six theaters in New England, three of them in New Haven. He died on May 31, 1937.
Mr. Sheahan graduated from Sheriden Junior High School in 1933, from The Taft School in 1938, and later attended the Univer- sity of Virginia, leaving in 1942 to enter the service. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy with the rank of lieutenant s/g, and was a flight instructor at Corpus Christi, Texas, Glenview, Illinois, Peru, Indiana, and New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1944 he was a test pilot in carrier aircraft service squadron 26, and squadron operations officer, serving at the naval air stations on Otis Field, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and at United States Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine.
Prior to entering military service, Mr. Sheahan held a commer- cial aircraft pilot's license and taught at Miami Flying School and
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at Simsbury Flying School. He held the specific rating of instructor. On leaving military service in 1946, he became associated with the New England Iron Works as secretary. He was made vice president and treasurer in 1956, and he became president of the company in 1958.
A member of Lambda Chapter of Kappa Alpha fraternity of the University of Virginia, Mr. Sheahan enjoys social connections as a member of the Union League Club, the Quinnipiack Club and the Race Brook Country Club; he is president of the Milford Lions Club, and he holds membership in the Milford Yacht Club and in Milford Lodge. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a director of the advisory board of Sacred Heart Academy. He attends religious worship at Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church in Wood- mont, Connecticut.
Mr. Sheahan was married in New Haven on April 22, 1950, to Marie Atwater Merwin, born in Milford, Connecticut, on July 18, 1928, the daughter of Earle Atwater Merwin and of Urania (Wilkinson) Merwin. Her father, born in 1898, was WPA director in Milford in the 1930's, is now owner of the Merwin Book Bindery, and is a member of the Milford Republican Town Committee and of the Milford Cemetery Commission. He attends religious services at the Milford Congregational Church. Mrs. Sheahan's mother was born in 1899. She was also a member of the Congregational Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheahan have four children: I. Marlene Poli, born on April 20, 1951. 2. Walter Poli, born on April 15, 1953. 3. Allison Merwin, born on June 2, 1955. 4. Melbourne Poli, born on January 2, 1957.
JOEL HENRY REED, 2nd.
A lawyer practicing at Stafford, Joel Henry Reed, 2nd, is also rendering distinguished service on the bench as judge of the probate court. In addition he is state's attorney for Tolland County, and is an official of several banks.
Born at Stafford Springs on October 30, 1904, he is a son of the late Willis H. and the late Winifred (Kinney) Reed. His father, who died on November 6, 1957, was a prominent citizen of Stafford Springs, where he practiced law. For twenty-five years he served as clerk of the superior court of Tolland County. At the time of his death he was a director of the Connecticut Bank and Trust Company of Stafford, and he was a corporator of the Stafford Savings Bank.
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Active in Ionic Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, he had served as past master. He was a member and trustee of the First Methodist Church of Stafford.
Joel H. Reed, 2nd, received his elementary and high school educa- tion locally, graduating from Stafford Springs High School, and from Williston Academy at Easthampton, Massachusetts. He received his professional training at the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore, and graduated there with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1928. Admitted to the practice of law in the state of Connec- ticut in January of the following year, he commenced his practice at Stafford Springs. He has conducted a general practice there ever since.
Over the past years, Mr. Reed has held office as prosecuting at- torney for the borough court of Stafford Springs; as public defender in the State Supreme Court for Tolland County; and as deputy coroner for Tolland County. He is currently state's attorney for Tolland County, and judge of the probate court of his district.
Mr. Reed is president of the Stafford Building and Loan As- sociation, and is a member of the corporation of the Stafford Savings Bank. He is a member of the board of corporators of the Stafford Library Association, and is president of the Cyril and Julia C. John- son Memorial Hospital, Inc. of Stafford Springs.
As a lawyer, Judge Reed is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Tolland County Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He belongs to the Stafford Springs Chamber of Commerce. Affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, he is a member of Ionic Lodge at Stafford Springs, and of Baker Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
His hobby is collecting antique automobiles, and his favorite out- door sport is golf.
On August 3, 1935, Joel Henry Reed, 2nd married Cora Hopkins of North Haven, Maine, daughter of William S. and Lillian P. Hop- kins. Mr. and Mrs. Reed were married in North Haven. She is a graduate of that city's high school, and of Wheaton College at Noroton, Massachusetts.
CLIFFORD I. PACKER
President and founder of the Packer Machine Company of Meri- den, and associated with the machine and tool building industry for more than thirty years, Mr. Packer is a director of the Meriden Manu- facturers Association, he is an incorporator of the Meriden Savings
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Bank, he is a trustee of the Meriden Trust and Safe Deposit Com- pany, a director of the Puritan Bank and vice president of the Meriden Hospital.
He was born in Noank, on June 24, 1889, the son of Warren F. Packer and of Lyda (Potter) Packer. His father was the son of Joseph and Mary Packer, and was the eldest of three children. The brothers and sister of Clifford I. Packer were named: 1. Warren J. 2. Harry E., deceased. 3. Ralph M. 4. Nellie May. 5. Harry E., deceased, and 6. Jay Starr, deceased. Mr. Packer's father was active in the road contracting business, and both of Mr. Packer's parents are now deceased. On his mother's side, Mr. Packer is a des- cendant of Elder William Brewster, Jonathan Brewster and Benjamin Brewster of early colonial days, Elder Brewster having been one of the passengers on the Mayflower. Mr. Packer is a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Mr. Packer attended grade school and high school in Mystic and Noank, and when his parents moved to Meriden, his first employment was with Edward Miller and Company of Meriden; he remained in this employment for six years. He was a foreman for a time with the Aeolian Company of Meriden, and later was assistant super- intendent of the Connecticut Telephone and Electric Company in Meriden.
It was in 1925 that Mr. Packer started his own business, known as the C. I. Packer Tool and Die Company, a tool and die jobbing shop. Here he made special tools, jigs and fixtures for other manufac- turers. About a year after his business had been in operation, he began the development of an automatic polishing and buffing machine. When his venture proved successful, the business was incorporated, and be- came known as the Packer Machine Company, and since that date has specialized in the manufacture and improvement of automatic polishing and buffing machines. It was the first company in the country to produce these machines commercially, and has been a prime factor in the increase of production and reduction in cost of many manufac- tured items sold today. During World War II, most airplane motor pistons were buffed on Packer-Matic equipment, and many other items which were used for defense purposes. The company today num- bers seventy-five employees.
Mr. Packer has played an active role in Meriden's community life and he is vice president of the Meriden Hospital, a member of the Home Club, and attends religious services at the First Baptist Church of Meriden, where he is chairman of finance and a trustee.
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Mr. Packer is also a Thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Shrine.
He is married to Jeannette E. Alexander, the daughter of Robert Alexander and of Mary E. Alexander of Meriden.
BURTON G. TREMAINE, JR.
President and a director of The Miller Company of Meriden, Mr. Tremaine is currently president of the Manufacturers Association of Meriden and Wallingford, and a director since 1952.
He was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 19, 1922, the son of Burton G. Tremaine and of Dorothy (Chapman) Tremaine. His father was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 31, 1901, the son of Burton G. Tremaine, Sr. and of Maude (Draper) Tremaine. Edu- cated in the University School in Cleveland, he later studied at Taft School and then at Evans Ranch School in Tucson, Arizona, and still later attended Lake Forest College in Chicago. After becoming as- sociated with The Miller Company, he became a director in 1924 and president in 1933, and he has been chairman of the board since 1955. Mr. Tremaine Jr.'s paternal grandfather was born in Michigan and owned a financial interest in The Miller Company, although not in- volved in its direction. With F. L. Terry, he was one of the founders of the National Electric Lamp Association in 1890, which was sold to the General Electric Company in 1901. He remained with the or- ganization when it became a part of General Electric and was a mem- ber of the board of directors of General Electric. Mr. Tremaine Jr.'s paternal grandparents were Arthur L. Chapman and Etta (Tyler) Chapman; he was born in Watertown, New York, and she was born in Henderson Harbor, New York.
Mr. Tremaine Jr. obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Yale University in 1943 as a member of the Class of 1944. During World War II, he served with the Army Field Artillery in France, Germany and Austria, and rose from private to the rank of first lieutenant. He was reconnaissance officer for Battery A of the 720th Field Artillery Battalion of the Sixty-fifth Infantry Division, and at the war's end, he remained for six months overseas and was at- tached to the State Department in Paris.
He joined The Miller Company on November 1, 1947 and became assistant to the executive vice president in October, 1948. Made a director on August 18, 1949, he became executive vice president on January 1, 1951, and assumed the post of president on August II, 1955.
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Mr. Tremaine has been active in community organizations, he served as chairman of the Industrial Division of the Meriden Com- munity Chest for two years, and is currently vice president of the Central Connecticut United Fund. Made a director of the Manufac- turers Association of Connecticut on January 1, 1957, he is a member of the Young Presidents Organization. His social connections include membership in the Home Club. the Hartford Club, and the Union Club of Cleveland, Ohio, and he attends religious services at Trinity Church in Hartford.
He is married to Sally McGean, the daughter of Ralph L. McGean and of Jean (Carleton) McGean. Mrs. Tremaine attended Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland and Dana Hall at Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Mr. and Mrs. Tremaine have four children : I and 2. Burton G. III and John M., twin sons, born on April 20, 1947. 3. Janet Carleton, born on August 28, 1950. 4. Sarah Chapman, born on October 26, 1954.
ROBERT M. LUBY
Active in the practice of law in Meriden, since 1939, and formerly associated with the late George A. Clark, Mr. Luby is active in pro- fessional organizations and is a member of the Meriden Bar Associa- tion, the New Haven County Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Mr. Luby was born in Meriden on May 29, 1914, the son of William J. Luby and of Ellen (O'Donnell) Luby. His father was born in Meriden and is active in the monument business in Meriden. Mr. Luby's mother was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Luby's bro- thers are William J., Jr., who is associated with his father in the monu- ment business : and James, who is employed in the Industrial Adminis- tration Relations Department of the Veeder Root Company in Hart- ford.
Mr. Luby graduated from Meriden High School, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree at Yale University in 1936, and then received the degree of Bachelor of Laws at Yale University Law School in 1939. During World War II, he served in the United States Army and saw action in the Asiatic and Pacific areas. He received four battle stars, holds the American Theater ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Medal. the Bronze Arrowhead, the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, and the Victory Medal. He obtained his honorable discharge with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
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Establishing his law practice in Meriden in 1939, Mr. Luby was associated with the late George A. Clark, though not in partnership, until Mr. Clark's death in 1954. Since then Mr. Luby has maintained his own offices in Meriden. He is a director of the Home National Bank and Trust Company, a member of the Distribution Committee of the Cuno Foundation, a director and vice president of the Meriden Hospital, and a member of the board of directors of Central Connecti- cut United Funds Inc. A Third degree member of the Knights of Columbus, he attends religious services at Saint Rose Roman Catholic Church in Meriden.
Mr. Luby was married in 1943 to Ruth E. McGee, the daughter of Stewart F. McGee and of Vera (Bagot) McGee. Mrs. Luby is a graduate of the University of California.
Mr. and Mrs. Luby have three children: I. Deborah Ann, born in October, 1946. 2. Robert M., Jr., born in January, 1950. 3. Thomas S., born in January, 1952.
CARL, REINHOLD LANGER
As president of The H. Wales Lines Company, Carl R. Langer heads a Meriden construction organization whose origins go back more than a century. This firm, a distributor of building materials as well as a constructor of buildings, has its offices and yards at 134 State Street. It is succesor to the company founded by George Bassett, who entered the construction business in 1853. In 1864, he sold out to Perkins and Lines, and from this modest concern has grown the extensive business which has been responsible for erecting thousands of buildings in towns and cities throughout several states. An impres- sive number of the important buildings erected in Meriden in both the last and the present century represent contracts of this organization. Its growth was in large measure the achievement of H. Wales Lines, who had joined the original company as a young man with experience in bricklaying. He advanced to head of the firm, which was given its present name, the H. Wales Lines Company, in 1878. Charles L. Phelps, long associated with Mr. Lines, is now chairman of the board.
Its president, Mr. Langer, is a native of Meriden, and was born on July 5, 1916, son of Charles and Anne (Keeley) Langer. His fa- ther was born in West Prussia, Germany, son of August and Pauline (Quade) Langer. Coming to the United States in 1889. he settled in Meriden. His father August was a cabinetmaker ; and Charles Langer, who followed the carpenter's trade, joined the H. Wales Lines Com-
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pany in 1907, working for the firm as a foreman. He advanced to superintendent, later became general superintendent, and was pro- moted to vice president in 1941. He is still active, and is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Lutheran Church. Anne Keeley, whom he married, is the daughter of Thomas and Anne Keeley. He was a native of Norwalk, and she came from County Clare, Ire- land. Charles and Anne (Keeley) Langer became the parents of five children : Marguerite, who is deceased; Evelyn; Helen, also deceased; Carl Reinhold; and Dorothy.
Attending the public elementary and high schools of Meriden, Carl R. Langer went to the University of Vermont for his advanced studies, and graduated there in 1937, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Immediately afterwards he joined the H. Wales Lines Company, for which he first worked as field en- gineer. He left to gain experience with other contractors in New England, and when this country became involved in World War II, he entered the army, being assigned to the Corps of Engineers. He was in military service for five years, of which three years were spent in the United States and two in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations. He held a major's commission at the time of his separa- tion from the service in April, 1946. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
When the war was over, he returned to H. Wales Lines Company, and on October 18, 1951, was promoted to vice president. He became general manager of the firm on October 21, 1954, and was elected its president on January 19, 1955. Since 1956, he has held office as treasurer as well.
Mr. Langer serves on the board of directors of the Connecticut Building Congress, and he is secretary as well as director of New Haven's chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. His business interests include service on the board of directors of the Home National Bank and Trust Company, and as trustee of the City Savings Bank of Meriden.
Interested in programs for the benefit of youth, he is a director of The Boys Club of his home city, and also a director of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is a Rotarian and a member of the Home Club, and he and his family attend St. Rose Roman Catholic Church.
On April II, 1942, Carl Reinhold Langer married Kathleen Horan of Hartford. She is a daughter of Joseph J. and Kathryn (O'Connell) Horan, and is a graduate of St. Joseph's College. The
RAY B. WESTERFIELD
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couple are the parents of the following children: 1. Carl R., Jr., who was born on February 7, 1943. 2. Marcia W., born on July 23, 1947. 3. Marc H., born July 12, 1951.
RAY BERT WESTERFIELD
Ray Bert Westerfield, who now serves as chairman of the board of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of New Haven, has had a varied and productive career as bank executive, educator, organizational and government official, and writer. He is unquestion- ably one of Connecticut's foremost authorities on financial and eco- nomic matters.
Born at Bradner, Ohio, on February 6, 1884, he is a son of John Harmon and Ella Malinda (Bierly) Westerfield. His father was a farmer. Receiving his early education in the public schools of his state, Ray B. Westerfield attended Ohio Northern University, where he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1907. From Yale University he received the degrees of Master of Arts in 1911, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1913. In 1935, Ohio Northern conferred on him an honorary degree of Doctor of Science.
Before he had completed his requirements for the Bachelor's de- gree, Dr. Westerfield had begun his career as educator, serving as principal of the high school in his native city of Bradner in 1905- 1906. From 1907 to 1910, he was principal of the high school at Paulding, Ohio. When he had completed studies for his doctorate at Yale. in 1913, he joined the university's faculty as instructor in eco- nomics. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1916, and served as professor of economics from 1922 until 1951. He has since re- tained the title of professor emeritus.
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